Entertainment · Celebrity · 2 hrs ago
Rebecca Gayheart says Eric Dane chose how to face his final days
Actor Eric Dane died in February at 53 after living with ALS, a degenerative neurological disorder.
His wife, Rebecca Gayheart, described his final days in a television interview, saying his family had not expected his last hospital visit to be fatal.
Dane’s condition changed during that hospital stay, and by the third day Gayheart said the doctors’ tone and information made the situation clearer.
She said Dane understood he was dying and made choices about the way he would die while communicating with his family and close friends.
Gayheart and their daughters, Billie and Georgia, stayed with him, playing his favourite music and trying to make the hospital room comfortable.
Dane’s public account of ALS raised awareness, Gayheart said, adding that more research and hope are needed; he also left a memoir that she said answered questions for their daughters.
Rebecca Gayheart said Eric Dane chose how he would face his final days while in hospital.
Dane died in February at age 53 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
Gayheart said his family did not realize his final hospital visit would be his last until his condition shifted around the third day.
She and their daughters, Billie and Georgia, stayed with him, played his favourite music and made the hospital room feel more comfortable.
Dane’s posthumous memoir, My Book of Days: A Memoir of Moments, was released on November 3.
- Who
- Actor Eric Dane and his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, with their daughters, Billie and Georgia.
- What
- Gayheart said Dane made choices about how he would face his death. He died after battling ALS.
- When
- Dane died in February at age 53. Gayheart discussed his final days on November 3.
- Where
- Dane was in hospital. The location is not stated.
- Why
- Dane’s ALS progressed, and his condition shifted during his final hospital stay.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Dane was diagnosed with ALS, according to Us Weekly.
Dane died at age 53 after battling ALS.
Gayheart said the tone of doctors’ conversations and the information given to the family shifted.
Gayheart spoke about Dane’s final days on Today, and his posthumous memoir was released.
- Age at death
- 53
- Cause of death
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Wife
- Rebecca Gayheart
- Daughters
- Billie, 16, and Georgia, 14
- Memoir
- My Book of Days: A Memoir of Moments
- Memoir release
- November 3
5 sources
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What people are saying
he was in control of the way he was going to leave
I had no idea that that was it, that that week was going to be our last week
No one can tell you what the journey looks like because it’s so different for every patient.
This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit.